R61i downgrade to XP using DVD recovery - some questions

[joshrob]

Hi,

I'm considering buying the NG1F7PB model, but I'm troubled with the Vista and I have some questions.

1. Is there any downgrade-to-XP guide? Can I find one here?
2. Is it an automated process?
3. Will my mother be able to do this? Or is it a advanced-user-only stuff?
4. Does the process format HDD?
5. Will I lost the built-in Vista recovery partition during this process?
6. Will it create XP-recovery partition?

Any help appreciated,

[Harryc]

Do you have XP recovery discs? Genuine or a copy?

[joshrob]

Do you have XP recovery discs? Genuine or a copy?

I presume they are genuine if I bought them with new hardware

[Harryc]

So, 'your Mother' puts disc #1 in and boots. She'll be prompted to insert the other discs when needed. Whatever is on the drive prior to this will be completely erased so do a backup. After the process completes, an XP recovery partition will have been created. 'Your Mother' may have to go back into R&R (Hold the ThinkVantage button) after the discs load to start a factory restore. The discs just load the recovery partition, they do not install XP. Also, create a set of Vista recovery discs first, unless you don't care about ever loading Vista again...think resale.

[joshrob]

So, 'your Mother' puts disc #1 in and boots. She'll be prompted to insert the other discs when needed. Whatever is on the drive prior to this will be completely erased so do a backup. After the process completes, an XP recovery partition will have been created. 'Your Mother' may have to go back into R&R (Hold the ThinkVantage button) after the discs load to start a factory restore. The discs just load the recovery partition, they do not install XP. Also, create a set of Vista recovery discs first, unless you don't care about ever loading Vista again...think resale.

It's literally "my Mother" I bought the hardware, and got it delivered to her place.

Thanks for the replies.